Correspondence.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 545, 2 March 1869, Page 2

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING HERALD. Wanganui, March 1, 1869. Sir, —Much has been said upon the present position of this colony, and its relation to the Home Government, and I cannot but regard the letter of Sir D. Munro, which a short time ago appeared in the Nelson Examiner, as containing some practical suggestions. One to which I chiefly now refer is, that troops of the line would be better, and more

cheaply obtained, if we, on the one hand, could obtain undivided control of them, and also that a be appointed by the Home \ | Government to inquire into the whole of this misguided and unfortunate colony's affairs. I quite agree with him, that in the end the Home Government will have to take upon itself the settling of this miserable war, and the longer we go on, as we have done for the last six months, the worse it will be for all parties. I believe we have suffered from the fact of the Constitution act being of so liberal a nature, and the same time of so complicated a form; it was, in fact, just what was wanted by the scheming men then resident here, and waiting for something to turn up to lift, themselves into office, which time has proved they were not backward in taking advantage of. I believe there never was an instance in so-called responsible government where the parties were so evenly balanced as our House of Representatives are; where a war of such magnitude is raging; and where popular opinion is so much against the Government; for that same Government to ignore that fact, and so tenaciously cling to office. 1 much regret the Assembly has not had an opportunity of expressing its views upon the desirability of retaining the services of: the 18th, so soon to leave us. I am satisfied myself that a grievous error is being committed in letting them leave. Now, suppose their services were retained on the terms stipulated for by the Home Government," and the regiment divided in detachments at Napier, Turanganui, Taranaki, Patea, and this town, I ask if it would not give additional security to the inhabitants to hold the ports of the disaffected districts, and show the natives that, while our centres of trade are protected, our colonial force could follow them, and they would certainly receive a moral check. And as to the question of expense, is any one simple enough to imagine that the sum asked by the Home Government for such services forms the whole of the cost of such regiment; and is not the amount spent in the colony, and assisting to add^ to our heavy revenue by the consum ption'of dutiable commodities ? And I ask if it is not a fact, that the withdrawal of this last regiment will tend to revive the spirits of the disaffected natives, by showing them that we are entirely left to ourselves ? I cannot but think it would be money well spent. That the Home Government has grown tired of her colonies I firmly believe. I have watched for some years past the tone of the English press upon the ques- i tion, and it has all pointed in one direction. One course is clear, for every inhabitant of this colony to demand that j there should be a commission appointed, I not of men that has formed part of our ] misrulers, but of independent practical Englishmen, no matter from whom selected, to take evidence here upon the spot of our relations with the natives and our connection in the bringing about of this war at the commencement in Governor Browne's time; to consider the working of the present Constitution act, and the desirability of making such alterations as time has proved to require, or if necessary to suspend it altogether for a time. I believe if this were properly brought under the notice of the Imperial Government, and some assistance sought from members of the House of Commons, that such a commission would be appointed; for of what use is our connexion with England if she will not stand by us in our hour of need ? Were it not for the much-vaunted Abyssinian expedition, I should suggest, instead of the Lion, the Lamb for the British nation, and a hint to our economical reformers to save the salary of the Governor by dispensing with that sinecure office. Allow me, in conclusion, to draw the attention of my fellow-townsmen to the ' conduct of this detachment while stationed here; they should not be permitted to leave without some real mark of our esteem. I ask, who it was principally saved our town from one of the worst conflagrations that ever visited a New Zealand settlement ? They worked hard at the Odd Fellows' hall, and by saving that prevented its extension to the other block where the wind was driving the flame. I have no hesitation in saying we owe them much, and I would cheerfully contribute my quota to some means of testifying my extreme gratitude for their services.—Yours, &c. An Inhabitant.

Mr R. Matthews, of the New North Road, Auckland, writes to the Southern Cross as follows :— " Having travelled over most of this island on several occasions, and having heard about the Taniwha, I beg to inform you what I know of it. I first heard of it up the Wanganui, when travelling up that river, and always found that places where its abode was said to be, were in certain dangerous spots, such as whirlpools, ior vortices, where a canoe could not

•; ;..;._.., ..." .-•,-i be managed, and where, if one got in, it would have hut little chance of getting out again. The taniwha was described to be very large, some- ! thing mysterious and undefined, and capable of devouring several people at the same time, and, further, that if the canoe went in at one certain' place the taniwha would devour all on board. The space where the taniwha resides would be from 20 to 40 yards, and it never left such places. I always felt satisfied to let themystedious being have the place from the very appearance of it, merely because the place was unsafe, and on. which account, in my opinion, the term taniwha originated. No remains of anything having been found in New Zealand waters but what is well known to exist, I think it is quite possible that the term taniwha is only a myth"